Home Remedies - 25 Old Wive's Tales

Here are some old fashioned home remedies for common complaints. Many of them I am sure are "old wives tales" but modern science has proved many of these "old wives tales" to have a legitimate scientific reason for being effective. How about the old tale about putting moth balls in the bottom of the bed for cramps??? I haven't tested this one myself as it is very seldom that I get cramps. Some people swear by it. If you have any tips to add I would be interested to hear them. Just add a comment. All these tips have been gleaned from a variety of sources, mostly from a friend and the fact that the use of well known brand names might suggest a free marketing plug for their product but if you ignore the brand names these natural remedies that most of us have in the kitchen or bathroom cupboard are a much better way than loading our bodies up with chemicals. I hope you enjoy and benefit from some of these folk remedies and I would love to hear if any more tips you can add. This is my contribution to modern science... all old fashioned remedies Beth Black Keyword Articles Did You Know That? Drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately -- without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional "pain relievers." Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns. Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose. Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 Tablespoon of horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil, for instant relief for aching muscles. Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria. Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer . Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly -- even though the product was never been advertised for this use. (Note: Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine is not the same..and contains aspirin, which can cause stomach bleeding if you have ulcers.) Honey remedy for skin blemishes... Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight. Listerine therapy for toenail fungus... Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerinemouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again. Easy eyeglass protection... To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of MaybellineCrystal Clear nail polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them. Coca-Cola cure for rust... Forget those expensive rust removers. Just saturate an abrasive sponge with Coca Cola and scrub the rust stain. The phosphoric acid in the coke is what gets the job done. Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer... If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409. Insects drop to the ground instantly. Smart splinter remover...just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue-All over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue. Hunt's tomato paste boil cure....cover the boil with Hunt's tomato paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head. Balm for broken blisters...To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine ... a powerful antiseptic. Heinz vinegar to heal bruises... Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process. Kills fleas instantly. Dawn dish washing liquid does the trick. Add a few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. Goodbye fleas. Rainy day cure for dog odor... Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh. Eliminate ear mites... All it takes is a few drops of Wesson corn oil in your cat's ear. Massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing. Quaker Oats for fast pain relief....It's not for breakfast anymore! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain. Cranberry juice taken regularly helps prevent urinary infections. (My friend, Director of a Geriatric Care Hospital, says it's much better than expensive cures, and ultimately economically very favourable) There is a honey available in pharmacies which is a medical honey.. slightly different from the usual and from a different type of bee.. this is the best for curing skin problems. Here is one for the Aussies A few drops of dettol kills cane toads. A diluted solution in a spray bottle is quick and easy. Sore throat and nasal congestion... steep some fresh gum leaves in boiling water and inhale. This is my contribution to modern science... all old fashioned remedies.